Progressive Politics in Minnesota, the Nation, and the World

Gun Safety Regulations Are Dependent On The Ballot Box

When asked specifically about expanding background checks, Daudt, R-Crown, responded that "behind-the-scenes" conversations between lawmakers are happening "to reduce putting guns in the hands of potentially dangerous criminals. I know we all share that goal. ... I hope those conversations can be fruitful and we can find some legislation that can get support of the Legislature."

Today, it was a different Kurt Daudt:

The speaker called background checks a "feel good solution" that would do little. He said that "everyone knows this is a pro-2nd Amendment Legislature" and any gun-related bills will not move before the Legislature adjourns May 21.

Huh.

Very different stances. What happened? Well I think this explains it...

"Obviously, there was some misunderstanding of our press conference," Daudt said late Thursday afternoon, after spending the day trying to make sure gun-rights advocates knew that he still supports them.

The gun rights advocates still win. At least for now. There is only one real way to solve this problem and that is an election where legislators who refuse to support gun safety regulation lose their seat.

Universal background checks have strong support in Minnesota. The MN Poll stated 90% in favor - only 8% against. Yet, Republicans in the legislature would rather stand with that 8%.

Background checks are no threat to legitimate gun ownership. Legal, law abiding gun owners have nothing to fear from this. I would dare say that most gun owners support this themselves.

We need to keep guns out of the hands of those who would abuse this privilege. How is that a problem? What law abiding gun owner is going to have any weapon of theirs taken away? Do they want severely mental ill people, suicidal people, or domestic abusers to get weapons? Do they really want to be complicit in the potential problems they might cause?

This idea was brought up as a potential amendment in the MN Senate today and it failed 36-30. Yes, a few Democrats voted with the Republicans, but not as many as have done so in the past.

The goal has to be defeating Republicans who will not allow gun safety to be moved forward in legislation. They MUST be voted out. It is the ONLY solution. And rogue Democrats will soon change as well.

OK. Lots of "red" states in there. Lots of rural states. Only New Mexico and Nevada voted for a Democrat for President - but both have Republican governors.

So what makes them stand out?

They are ranked in order with the highest rates of gun deaths per 100,000 residents in the country. Not Illinois. Not New York. Not California. The reason this goes under the radar is that they are mostly low population states, yet their residents have the highest risk of death by gun.

Gun safety is not just an urban problem - it is a problem everywhere. And until we have more gun safety regulation put in place, this trend can go nowhere but up.

The Will Of The People On Guns Is Thwarted By MN GOP

The Star Tribune poll looked into the issue of gun laws and came up with two opposing ideas....

1) Regulations will be a tough sell. "Legislators and lobbyists said neither those nor other gun control laws are likely to progress this year in St. Paul, with Republican legislative leaders showing no willingness to take them up."

Notice it is Republican legislative leaders that are the obstacle.

Secondly, is the opposite view.

2) Overwhelming public support. "Asked whether criminal background checks should be mandatory on all gun sales -- current state law has exceptions for private sales and at gun shows -- a full 90 percent of poll respondents said yes, with only 8 percent opposed. And 86 percent said it should be mandatory to report stolen or lost guns to police."

Anything that has that kind of overwhelming support should be a safe political stance, shouldn't it? But Republicans at the Capitol do not fear the public, they fear the NRA Gun lobby.

There is an obvious flaw in the system when this is the case. The people are the ones to be represented. They are the ones who determine electoral fates. Yet, somehow, Republicans have minimized public support and have found ways to ignore gun safety voices.

The numbers are overwhelming:

56% support stricter gun laws - 31% oppose.

59% oppose arming teachers - 35% support.

63% support raising the legal purchase age to 21 - 27% oppose.

59% support a ban on military-styled rifles with detachable magazines while 31% oppose the ban.

90% support mandatory criminal background check on all gun sales, including those sold privately and at gun shows - 8% oppose.

54% believe we would be less safe if more people carried guns - 36% believe we would be safer.

Republicans are not reflecting the will of the public - they are obstructing that will. That would suggest that we need a change in this Minnesota legislature. First the House in 2018 - then the Senate in 2020.